unseat

verb

un·​seat ˌən-ˈsēt How to pronounce unseat (audio)
unseated; unseating; unseats
Synonyms of unseatnext

transitive verb

1
: to dislodge from one's seat especially on horseback
2
: to remove from a place or position
especially : to remove from political office

Synonyms of unseat

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Examples of unseat in a Sentence

He unseated an incumbent senator. The horse bucked and unseated its rider.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adam Hamilton, the Democrat seeking to unseat Senator Roger Marshall, a Republican, is a political newcomer. — Ruth Graham, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026 Such a retreat could then embolden Modi’s rivals and encourage further protests—and raise the prospect that a galvanized opposition might finally unseat the prime minister in the next parliamentary elections scheduled for 2029. — Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026 Their presence has fueled social tensions in Ceuta and become a political issue across Spain, where opposition parties hope to use migration concerns to unseat the progressive government in next month's elections. — Joseph Wilson, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026 Jones is a Democrat running in the election to be Iowa's secretary of agriculture, trying to unseat incumbent Republican Mike Naig. — CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unseat

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unseat was in 1596

Rhymes for unseat

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Browse Nearby Words

unseasoned
unseat
unseaworthiness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unseat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unseat. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unseat

verb
un·​seat ˌən-ˈsēt How to pronounce unseat (audio)
ˈən-
1
: to throw from one's seat especially on horseback
2
: to remove from a place or position
especially : to remove from political office
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